The counseling experience is a very personal interaction, and I believe the most important aspect of this relationship is trust. So to help build trust, I’ll share with you my professional beliefs and training, and most importantly, what you can expect from counseling.
Philosophy & Counseling Method
Changes, relationships, spiritual problems—these can rob life of joy and vitality.
I believe that hope is the primary commodity that empowers people to change, and because change involves risk, I respect the difficulty this might cause for you. I see myself as your helper; I do not make decisions for you. I believe you, like other people, are deeply affected by family, social, and cultural systems. By exploring and sometimes adjusting the underlying beliefs, values, reactions, and emotions that drive your behaviors, you can achieve your best changes. I’ve found this to be true, for example, whether you’re looking for Christian and biblical counseling or whether that is clearly what you’re not looking for.
I believe you can reclaim your identity and redirect the stories of your life, giving you a realistic basis for hope. I incorporate into my practice the insights from several highly successful therapeutic models including
- Existential
- Cognitive-Behavioral
- Narrative
- Positive Psychology
- Emotion-Focused
- Behavioral Activation
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
I have been privileged to provide quality therapy for all types of clients. Whether you are an elected community leader or a felon, a homeless person or business executive, a lonely teenager or an empty-feeling adult, I love helping people make improvements in their lives . . . creating hope and making good choices.
Email or call Steve to make an appointment:
Steve Stewart, LMFT, LMHC
503-936-1508
stevestewart.mft@gmail.com